• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2009

Effects of salinity and standard toxic metals on fertilization and embryo development rates were investigated in the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. Spawning was induced by injecting $1{\sim}2$ mL of 0.5 M KCl into the coelomic cavity. Males released white or cream-colored sperms and females released yellow or orange-colored eggs. The fertilization rate was below 30% when salinity was 20 psu and lower, but was almost above 90% when salinity was 25 psu and higher. The embryo development rate was below 60% when salinity was 25 psu and lower, but was above 80% when salinity was between 30 and 35 psu. The fertilization and embryo development rates in the control condition(not including Cu and Cd) were greater than 90%, but decreased a high negative correlation with the increasing of Cu(r=-0.80, r=-0.78) and Cd(r=-0.90, r=-0.82) concentrations, respectively. The fertilization and embryo development rates were significantly inhibited in the addition of Cu($EC_{50}$=17.30 ppb, $EC_{50}$=10.32 ppb) and Cd($EC_{50}$=364.57 ppb, $EC_{50}$=244.04 ppb), respectively. These results suggest that salinity concentrations for successful fertilization and normal embryogenesis of H. pulcherrimus are above 25 psu and 30 psu, respectively, and the biological assays of fertilization and embryo development rates using H. pulcherrimus are useful methods for the ecological toxicity test of marine pollution elements.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.75-90
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to establish the techniques for producing the calves of genetically superior Korean Native cattle by transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. The effects of some factors related to embryo recovery following superovulation and pregnancy rate following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos were evaluated. Also calving state was investigated. The results obtained were as follows ; The mean number of total and transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow was 8.72 and 4.90, respectively, from a total of 72 superovulations using 34 donor cows. There were no significant differences in the number of total or transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow between products of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), years, seasons, and collection numbers. The pregnancy rate was found 44.44% following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos of Korean Native cattle to a total of 180 recipient cows including 82 Angus, 27 Charolais, 62 Hereford and 9 Korean Native cows. The pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of excellent (42.99) and good embryos (40.17%), compared with fair (5.90%) grade embryos. And the pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of embryos of morula stage (43.86%) than blastocyst stage (15.51%). But there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates between natural and induced estrus estrus asynchrony of 1 days, breeds, and parities of recipient cows. The normal calving rate of 80 pregnant cows following transfer of frozen4hawed em-bryos was 87.5% and the other 10 pregnant cows showed abortion during the period from pregnancy diagnosis at 50~60 days to calving. The average gestation length of normally delivered recipients was 288.50 days and the average birth weight of 70 calves born was 24.22 kg. The gestation length was significantly (P<0.05) shorter in the recipients delivering female calves (286.70 days) than males (289.39 days). But there were no significant differences in gestation tength and birth weight of calves born between the recipient breeds.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.59-63
• /
• 2021

To study for germination rate of apple artificial seeds encapsulated with 2% alginic acids, the rates of germination for artificial seeds of various embryos with partial elimination of cotyledon measured by adding 80 mg/L gibberellic acid or/and nutritional media. The germination rate of artificial seeds produced embryo with 3/4 cotyledon (3/4 CE), embryo with 1/2 cotyledon (1/2 CE), embryo with 1/4 cotyledon (1/4 CE), and embryo without cotyledon (NCE) were gradually decreased with compare to normal embryo, but it's considerably recovered on the alginic acid containing MS solution or/and 80 mg/L GA3. In special, the low frequency (55.81%) of germination for artificial seeds of 1/2 cotyledon embryo with alginic acid was increased by treatment with combination of alginic acid, 3% sucrose, and 80 mg/L gibberellic acid (98.74%). In case of embryo without cotyledon, the low frequency of embryo without cotyledon (24.44%) in alginic acid almost recovered to 82.45% in alginic acid with MS solution and 80 mg/L gibberellic acid. The results shown that the germination of embryo was decreased by the removal of cotyledon, and demonstrated that the low rate of germination could be considerably increased by adding GA3 (80 mg/L) or/and nutrition.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.486-490
• /
• 2009

In January 2009, the water quality of offshore around the Incheon coast was evaluated by bioassay using early development systems of a sea urchin species, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. The results of performing biological evaluations on seawater samples from total of thirteen sites, showed that the formation rates of normal pluteus larva varied from 18% to 71%. In site 5 the seawater sample led to an averaage formation rate of normal larva of 18%, the highest abnormal formation rate hindering the early embryo development of the experimental animal, while that of site 3 averaged 71%, the highest formation rate of normal larva. Seawater samples from site 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12, resulted in average formation rates of normal larva from 33% to 56%, which indicates the developmental damage of early embryos is not severe. Seawater samples from site 5, 6, 8 and 13, resulted in average formation rates of normal larva from 18% to 21% which there was strong damage to the development of early embryos.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.376-380
• /
• 2004

In August 2003, the water quality of offshore waters along the Incheon coast of Korea was evaluated by biological evaluation using gametes, embryos and early development systems of a starfish species (Asterina pectinifera). As the result of performing biological evaluations on seawater samples from a total thirteen sites, the formation rate of normal larva was 16-68%. At seawater sample from site 5 and 13, formation rate of normal larva averaged 16%, the most abnormal rate hindering the early embryo development of the experimental animal, while that of site 3 averaged 68%, the highest formation rate of normal larva. At seawater sample from site 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, formation rate of normal larva averaged 33-54%, those which damage the development of early embryos slightly. At seawater sample from site 1, 5, 6, 8, 13, formation rate of normal larva averaged 16-28%, those which damage the development of early embryos strongly.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.463-469
• /
• 2010

Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the world's population. Embryo comprises only 2 to 3% of the weight distribution of the entire pericarp but has higher concentration of vitamins, proteins, and essential fatty acids than the other parts of grains. Moreover, ${\alpha}$-tocoperol, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol, phytic acid and ${\gamma}$-aminobutric acid that have nutraceutical value are abundant. Increasing the volume of embryo assures the fortification of nutritional value of rice grain. We developed new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263 by crossing Josaengheugchal, a black waxy rice variety, and $ge^t$, a giant embryo mutant generated by tissue culture. The nutrient contents and physical properties of Milyang 263 were compared with several giant embryo mutants and normal embryo rice varieties. Changes in the nutrient properties after germination were also observed. Results indicated that this new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263, offers a promising source for improving nutritional quality of rice especially anthocyanin, essential minerals, and GABA.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.85-89
• /
• 2011

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a useful tool for reproducing genetically identical animals or producing transgenic animals. Many reports have demonstrated that the efficiency of animal cloning by SCNT requires reprogramming of the somatic nucleus to a totipotent like-state. The SCNT-related reprogramming might mimic the natural reprogramming process that occurs during normal mammalian development. However, recent evidence indicates that the reprogramming event by SCNT is incomplete. In this study, the traditional SCNT procedure (TNT) was modified by injecting donor nuclei into recipient cytoplasm prior to the enucleation process to expose the donor nucleus before removing the karyoplast containing the chromosomes of the oocytes which might possess additional reprogramming factors, and this modified technique was named as reversing the usual order of SCNT (RONT). Other procedures including activation and in vitro culture were the same as TNT. Contrary to expectations, the rate of blastocyst development was not different significantly between RONT and TNT (8.6% and 7.9%, respectively). However, duration of micromanipulation performed by the same technician and equipments was remarkably reduced because the ruptured oocytes after nuclear injection were excluded from the enucleation process. This study suggests that RONT, a simplified SCNT protocol, shortens the duration of SCNT procedure and this less time-costing protocol may enable the researchers to perform murine SCNT easier.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.775-781
• /
• 2008

Effects of salinity and standard toxic metals on fertilization and embryo development rates were investigated in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus nudus. Spawning was induced by injecting 1ml of 0.5 M KCl into the coelomic cavity. The fertilization and embryo development rates were below 20% when salinity was 25 psu or lower, but were above 90% when salinity was between 30 and 35 psu. The fertilization and embryo development rates in the control condition (not including Cu and Cd) were greater than 90%, but decreased with a high negative correlation (r) of 0.89 and 0.91 with the increasing of Cu and Cd concentrations, respectively. These results suggest that salinity concentrations for successful fertilization and normal embryogenesis of S. nudus are between 30 and 35 psu, and the biological assays of fertilization and embryo development rates using S. nudus are useful methods for the ecological toxicity test of marine pollution elements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.693-699
• /
• 2010

Imprinted genes are essential for fetal development, growth regulation, and postnatal behavior. However, little is known about imprinted genes in livestock. We hypothesized that certain putatively imprinted genes affected normal peri-implantation development such as embryo elongation, initial placental development, and preparation of implantation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of several putatively imprinted genes during the porcine peri-implantation stages from day 6 to day 21 of gestation. Imprinted genes were selected both maternally (Dlk1, IGF2, Ndn, and Sgce) and paternally (IGF2r, H19, Gnas and Xist). Here, we report that the maternally imprinted gene IGF2 was expressed from day 6 (Blastocyst stage), but Dlk1, Ndn, and Sgce were not expressed in this stage. These genes were first expressed between days 12 and day 14. All the maternally imprinted genes studied showed significantly high expression patterns from day 18 of embryo development. In contrast, paternally imprinted genes IGF2r, H19, Gnas, and Xist were first expressed from day 6 of embryo development (BL). Our data demonstrated that the expression of H19 and Gnas genes was significantly increased from day 14 of the embryo developmental stage, while IGF2r and Xist only showed high expression after day 21. This study is the first to show that the putatively imprinted genes were stage-specific during porcine embryonic development. These results demonstrate that the genes studied may exert important effects on embryo implantation and fetal development.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2004

Optimal regeneration conditions of ginseng transformants were studied. It has been known that Ferritin Light Heavy Chain (FLHC) gene remove the several heavy metal by combination, store and transport. To obtain the ginseng tolerant to heavy metal, binary vector was introduced in Agrobacterium by tri-parental mating and then Agrobacterium tumefaciens MP90/FLHC was selected on the AB media and MS media containing kanamycin. Explants were co-cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens MP90/FLHC, which contained NPT II as a selectable marker, tadpole ferritin heavy chain (FLHC) gene and human ferritin light chain gene and then a number of embryos were induced. The induced embryo transferred to shooting media consisting of MS medium supplemented with GA 10 mg/L. As a result of examination that induced the normal growth of transfomants, transformants showed the equivalent growth in both root and shoot on the media containing the 1/3 MS.